Herman Joseph Willger

Herman J. Willger, 70, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, October 25, 2007 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 29th at 11:00 am at West Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, with Rev. J. Kincaid Smith officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Herman Joseph Willger was born on December 4, 1936 at his parents' home in Cashton, WI. He was the son of John and Martha (Weber) Willger. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Ridge Catholic Church and attended St. Mary's Ridge School. After his schooling, Herman worked at a cheese factory near his home before moving to Waukon in 1960 where he worked at the Ludlow Creamery and Cheese Factory. On November 18, 1961 he married Lois Bakke at the West Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church. After serving a tour of active duty in the US Army, he returned to Waukon where he continued to work at the Ludlow Cheese Factory. In 1974 he and Lois bought a farm in Ludlow where they milked cows and raised hogs and crops until 1982. Lois died in 1995 and Herman moved to Waukon in 1996 where he has lived ever since. On December 28, 1996 he married Loretta Schuttemeier Strub at the West Paint Creek Synod Church. They enjoyed traveling together and spending time at the river cabin near Lansing.

Herman spent many years as an active member of the West Paint Creek Synod Church. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed a number of trips to Canada as well as many good times at the Mississippi River. Hunting deer and pheasant were other favorite pastimes of his. The past few years he has enjoyed spending part of the winter in the south. Herman was happiest when he was around people. He liked to spend time visiting and traveling with friends and family and he loved to get together to play cards, shuffleboard, golf or just to tell stories. His good nature and sense of humor made him an instant friend to anyone he met.

Survivors include 2 sons, Scott (Angie) of Waukon and Bryan (Laurie) of Cedar Rapids, IA; 8 grandchildren, Tade, Leah, Tom, Sam, Josh, Zach, Bryanna and Jared; 4 step-children, Alan (Joyce) Strub and Matt (Terri) Strub, both of Caledonia, MN, Christine Strub of Madison, WI, and Jennifer Strub of Minneapolis, MN; 5 step-grandchildren, Rachel, Bradley, Lauren, Madelyn, and Jack; 3 brothers, Ben (Linda) Willger and Lawrence (Elaine) Willger, both of Cashton, WI, and Mike (Madonna) Willger of Janesville, WI; 4 sisters-in-law, Louise Willger of Janesville, WI, Marion (Ron) Nerstad of Spring Grove, MN, Nanci Collins of Burnsville, MN, and Brenda (Jim) Westby of Mabel, MN; and a brother-in-law, Don (Joyce) Bakke of Waukon. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Lois, who died in 1995; his wife Loretta, who died in 2005; 3 sisters, Marie Erickson, Anna Willger and an infant sister; and 2 brothers, Martin and Albert Willger.

Casketbearers are Randy Kruger, Roger and Tim Willger, Randy Bakke, Tom Erickson and Jerry Gilbertson. His fishing, golfing and good-time friends will serve as honorary casketbearers.